Mounted search and rescue

[pennbo@verizon.net]

LOL   This IS business!! We are in the business of using equines to do
Search and Rescue. Whether a particular breed is or isn't suited to the
work should be a valuable topic of discussion AS LONG AS it's done
respectfully. So far it seems to be. 

Personally I do not
prefer QHs simply because they are so quiet. I prefer a more
interactive partner. Doesn't mean that a QH isn't a good SAR mount.
:-)  Just means that for ME, and the type of riding I do, I have other
priorities. When I think about the horses in our unit it's actually
amazing that there are NOT an abundance of one breed or another. We
have QHs, Morgans, Arabs, Rocky's, Paso, FoxTrotters, haflingers,
Fjords, and grades. Some are better at SAR work than others. Some are
better at some facets of SAR work that other facets. All are well loved
and well trained. I am happy to have them, and their riders, on my
team! 

We had a horse on the team once that no one wanted to
work with. He would blow up with no notice. He was very large- 16+h and
he hated to be anywhere but first, so he bullied his way around. Always
laid down in water no matter where you were. LOL  Didn't think a thing
about hitching a leg into the rider behind if he felt like it. His
rider is extremely experienced and saw something that the rest of us
didn't. Here, 6 years later, that is one FINE, very fine, SAR mount! He
came into his own and is a valuable team member. So even individuals
can become special with time and training. (oh- he is a QH!) 

Getting them to the point where they are valuable team members is probably more important that the breed they are. 

Chris 


>